Is it safe to delete system caches?

Hello,
Lately my computer is running a bit slow. So i looked up some tips to seed up my mac. I read i had to check my system caches and if the folder was over 3GB, I had to delete it.
So I went and got my system caches folder, i saw the file size was over 102GB!
I wanted to ask you guys if there's something wrong with my computer and whether it's safe for me to delete my system cache.
Thanks in advance,
Roán

Deleting caches is generally not going to help with system slowdowns. Cache is there to improve performance.
I suggest you download and install EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck
Run EtreCheck and publish report here
Allan

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Is it safe to delete the cache file folder from library

is it safe to delete the cache file folder from library ?

As I understand it Robo doesn't really 'do' third-party
source control. We use SourceGear Vault, but really only as a
repository for the files. We can't really work concurrently because
Robo needs exclusive access to the top level project files. But it
kind of works for us, because we're on opposite sides of the globe.
I see what you're saying on the 'local' versions of (say) the
cpd files conflicting. If anyone else has an informed view, I'm all
ears. We've set it up this way ourselves - I don't know of anyone
doing the same. If someone tells me this is a bad idea, I'm happy
to think again.
Cheers!

Is it safe to delete ALL caches and/or receipts?

is it safe to delete ALL files and folders under "user/library/caches"? I was surprised to see how big it has gotten. and is it safe to delete "macintosh hd/library/caches"?
how about receipts located in "user/library/receipts" and/or in "macintosh hd/library/receipts"?
how about unders "user/library/preferences"?
thanks for the help.

Regarding receipts, as already provided check these links.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25751
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25768
Regarding the preference files at Home > Library > Preferences, these are the preference files for your applications and the Finder, etc. so if deleted for a particular application, this will require resetting your preferred preference settings for the application. If there is a preference file available for an application you have deleted, the application's preference file can also be deleted but these preference files take up very little hard drive space and cause no adverse effects if not deleted when the associated application is deleted.
Are you trying to free up hard drive space? If so, check this link.
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/freeingspace.html

System cache cleaning - when is it safe, and when is not?

System cache cleaning is one of those so-called "maintenance" tasks that you may read about on the forums on Mac OS X guides that has mixed reviews, and typically is not necessary. In fact, when it is done at the wrong time, data corruption can lead to a situation where an erase and reinstall is necessary. I can't reproduce it easily, but I will say I've had it happen to at least three of my clients, so it is not as random as one would hope.
You've probably heard of browser cache, and that's safe to clean anytime you like. One thing you'll notice about when you do, is that some websites will load slower, and others will load faster depending on your internet connection, and the frequency those websites get updated.
System cache on the other hand which you'll find in ByHost and Cache folders in your Hard drive -> Library, System -> Library, Users -> yourname -> Library are a much more sensitive type of file. These will optimize the speed of frequently done operations on the operating system itself as well as specific applications which require those folders. When one of these files get corrupted, programs won't launch, will unexpectedly quit, will launch and close on their own, and in some cases Disk Utility won't function normally, or System Preference panels won't launch. To avoid these problems:
1. Only do system cache cleaning after your data is completely backed up to your satisfaction, so that a system restore won't waste your time.
2. Do it when no other applications are running, and there are no memory resident programs that may be affected by such cleaning in Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Accounts -> Login or Startup Items. Check the Process or Activity Viewer applications for applications you might have installed.
3. Do not allow the process to be interrupted until it is finished. If any power outage happens, you may be left with a corrupted cache file.
If you have a corrupted cache problem, attempt to isolate if it is happening just to one account by creating another account with Apple Menu -> System Preferences -> Accounts with admin access and see if it impacts that account as well. Do the following depending on whether or not it does affect that account:
1. If isolated to one user, go back to the user and delete that user's Library folder's cache files relating to system and Launchservices, and log out and log back in the user twice. If it disappears as a problem once, and reappears, something you are running is persistentantly corrupting that user's cache folder, and you may have to move all the non-corrupt files to the new user.
2. If it is not isolated to the user go to the System and Library folders under the hard drive and see if the Launchservices files and System cache files are removed if the issue disappears on reboot, and if it does, does it reappear after a second reboot. If it reappears after a second reboot, then you have the scary prospect of an erase and install of your system.
Don't use automatic utilities to manage your system or user cache files. If anything only manually clean the cache when it is necessary and you have corrupted files. The cache is there to speed your system, and should otherwise not be touched.

System cache cleaning is one of those so-called "maintenance" tasks that you may read about on the forums on Mac OS X guides that has mixed reviews, and typically is not necessary. In fact, when it is done at the wrong time, data corruption can lead to a situation where an erase and reinstall is necessary. I can't reproduce it easily, but I will say I've had it happen to at least three of my clients, so it is not as random as one would hope.
You've probably heard of browser cache, and that's safe to clean anytime you like. One thing you'll notice about when you do, is that some websites will load slower, and others will load faster depending on your internet connection, and the frequency those websites get updated.
System cache on the other hand which you'll find in ByHost and Cache folders in your Hard drive -> Library, System -> Library, Users -> yourname -> Library are a much more sensitive type of file. These will optimize the speed of frequently done operations on the operating system itself as well as specific applications which require those folders. When one of these files get corrupted, programs won't launch, will unexpectedly quit, will launch and close on their own, and in some cases Disk Utility won't function normally, or System Preference panels won't launch. To avoid these problems:
1. Only do system cache cleaning after your data is completely backed up to your satisfaction, so that a system restore won't waste your time.
2. Do it when no other applications are running, and there are no memory resident programs that may be affected by such cleaning in Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Accounts -> Login or Startup Items. Check the Process or Activity Viewer applications for applications you might have installed.
3. Do not allow the process to be interrupted until it is finished. If any power outage happens, you may be left with a corrupted cache file.
If you have a corrupted cache problem, attempt to isolate if it is happening just to one account by creating another account with Apple Menu -> System Preferences -> Accounts with admin access and see if it impacts that account as well. Do the following depending on whether or not it does affect that account:
1. If isolated to one user, go back to the user and delete that user's Library folder's cache files relating to system and Launchservices, and log out and log back in the user twice. If it disappears as a problem once, and reappears, something you are running is persistentantly corrupting that user's cache folder, and you may have to move all the non-corrupt files to the new user.
2. If it is not isolated to the user go to the System and Library folders under the hard drive and see if the Launchservices files and System cache files are removed if the issue disappears on reboot, and if it does, does it reappear after a second reboot. If it reappears after a second reboot, then you have the scary prospect of an erase and install of your system.
Don't use automatic utilities to manage your system or user cache files. If anything only manually clean the cache when it is necessary and you have corrupted files. The cache is there to speed your system, and should otherwise not be touched.

Delete library cache

I deleted my some of user library cache ...however, a bloc of items required entering my keychain/login pw to delete....so I thought twice and here I am asking if the cache items requiring a pw are also safe to delete?

I've still got a Lion Server (hopefully moving to ML Server today if I can get the farking certs to work right) so that's good to know. To give my post context (in case others arrive here) what brought me and to Apple Care and back was the fact I was getting random hard lockups on my system (albeit, custom built). I would see these in the logs every time:
12/19/12 1:06:13.000 PM kernel[0]: Sandbox: sandboxd(89688) deny mach-lookup com.apple.coresymbolicationd
12/30/12 11:41:50.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: sandboxd(79986) deny mach-lookup com.apple.coresymbolicationd
12/30/12 1:07:13.000 PM kernel[0]: Sandbox: sandboxd(6043) deny mach-lookup com.apple.coresymbolicationd
1/3/13 10:49:11.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: sandboxd(174) deny mach-lookup com.apple.coresymbolicationd
Deleted cache, still locked up
1/3/13 1:55:00.000 PM kernel[0]: Sandbox: sandboxd(10713) deny mach-lookup com.apple.coresymbolicationd
I couldn't find any infoz on "com.apple.coresymbolicationd" but found it in the cache. After finding out it was OK to delete the cache, I tried again. Still locked up. I then found a .plist file in /system/library/launchdaemons and moved it. Not a lockup since (fingers crossed).
I know that's not info you asked for, but I like to provide what I can in case other folks happen upon it.
Have a great weekend!
t

Hi, I developed a web application using HTML5-Offline Application Cache mechanism. Inspite of deleting the cache as mentioned in the above steps, Firefox still maintains a copy of the page in it's cache. Also, a serious bug is, even though we delete all

== Issue
==
I have a problem with my bookmarks, cookies, history or settings
== Description
==
Hi,
I developed a web application using HTML5-Offline Application Cache mechanism. Inspite of deleting the cache as mentioned in the above steps, Firefox still maintains a copy of the page in it's cache. Also, a serious bug is, even though we delete all temp files used by Firefox, and open the previously cached page, it displays it correctly, but upon refreshing/reloading it again shows the previous version of the page maintained in the cache.
== Troubleshooting information
==
HTML5: Application Caching
.style1 {
font-family: Consolas;
font-size: small;
text-align: left;
margin-left: 80px;
function onCacheChecking(e)
printOutput("CHECKINGContents of the manifest are being checked.", 0);
function onCacheCached(e) {
printOutput("CACHEDAll the resources mentioned in the manifest have been downloaded", 0);
function onCacheNoUpdate(e)
printOutput("NOUPDATEManifest file has not been changed. No updates took place.", 0);
function onCacheUpdateReady(e)
printOutput("UPDATEREADYChanges have been made to manifest file, and were downloaded.", 0);
function onCacheError(e) {
printOutput("ERRORAn error occured while trying to process manifest file.", 0);
function onCacheObselete(e)
printOutput("OBSOLETEEither the manifest file has been deleted or renamed at the source", 0);
function onCacheDownloading(e) {
printOutput("DOWNLOADINGDownloading resources into local cache.", 0);
function onCacheProgress(e) {
printOutput("PROGRESSDownload in process.", 0);
function printOutput(statusMessages, howToTell)
* Outputs information about an event with its description
* @param statusMessages The message string to be displayed that describes the event
* @param howToTell Specifies if the output is to be written onto document(0) or alert(1) or both(2)
try {
if (howToTell == 2) {
document.getElementById("stat").innerHTML += statusMessages;
window.alert(statusMessages);
else if (howToTell == 0) {
document.getElementById("stat").innerHTML += statusMessages;
else if (howToTell == 1) {
window.alert(statusMessages);
catch (IOExceptionOutput) {
window.alert(IOExceptionOutput);
function initiateCaching()
var ONLY_DOC = 0;
var ONLY_ALERT = 1;
var BOTH_DOC_ALERT = 2;
try
if (window.applicationCache)
var appcache = window.applicationCache;
printOutput("BROWSER COMPATIBILITYSUCCESS!! AppCache works on this browser.", 0);
appcache.addEventListener('checking', onCacheChecking, false);
appcache.addEventListener('cached', onCacheCached, false);
appcache.addEventListener('noupdate', onCacheNoUpdate, false);
appcache.addEventListener('downloading', onCacheDownloading, false);
appcache.addEventListener('progress', onCacheProgress, false);
appcache.addEventListener('updateready', onCacheUpdateReady, false);
appcache.addEventListener('error', onCacheError, false);
appcache.addEventListener('obsolete', onCacheObselete, false);
else
document.getElementById("stat").innerHTML = "Failure! I cant work.";
catch (UnknownError)
window.alert('Internet Explorer does not support Application Caching yet.\nPlease run me on Safari or Firefox browsers\n\n');
stat.innerHTML = "Failure! I cant work.";
== Firefox version
==
3.6.3
== Operating system
==
Windows XP
== User Agent
==
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-GB; rv:1.9.2.3) Gecko/20100401 Firefox/3.6.3 ( .NET CLR 3.5.30729; .NET4.0E)
== Plugins installed
==
*-Shockwave Flash 10.0 r45
*Default Plug-in
*Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape "9.3.2"
*NPRuntime Script Plug-in Library for Java(TM) Deploy
*The QuickTime Plugin allows you to view a wide variety of multimedia content in Web pages. For more information, visit the QuickTime Web site.
*Google Update
*4.0.50524.0
*Office Live Update v1.4
*NPWLPG
*Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) plug-in for Mozilla browsers
*Next Generation Java Plug-in 1.6.0_20 for Mozilla browsers
*Npdsplay dll
*DRM Store Netscape Plugin
*DRM Netscape Network Object
Thanks & Regards,
Kandarpa Chandrasekhar Omkar
Software Engineer
Wipro Technologies
Bangalore.
[email protected]
[email protected]

We have had this issue many, many times before including on the latest 3.6 rev. It appears that when the applicationCache has an update triggered by a new manifest file, the browser may still use only its local network cache to check for updates to the files in the manifest, instead of forcing an HTTP request and revalidating both the browser cache and the applicationCache versions of the cached file (seems there is more than one). I have to assume this is a browser bug, as one should not have to frig with server Cache-Control headers and such to get this to work as expected (and even then it still doesn't sometimes).
The only thing that seems to fix the problem is setting network.http.use-cache to false (default is true) in about:config . This helps my case because we only ever run offline (applicationCache driven) apps in the affected browser (our managed mobile apps platform), but it will otherwise slow down your browser experience considerably.

System Cache Issues with Windows Server 2008R2

Hi,
I'm trying to deploy Java version 1.5.0 (build 1.5.0_14-b03) on a new Windows Server 2008R2 installation. I want to use the system cache feature and have used it successfully on Windows XP workstations and Windows 2003 servers in the past. I even got it to work on a test Win Server 2008R2 server earlier this week. But on my production machine I can't get the system cache to configure.
I installed Java as usual and it installed into the Program Files(x86) directory. I copied my deployment files to the c:\windows\sun\java\deployment directory.
Deployment.config contains:
deployment.system.config=file\:/c\:/windows/sun/java/deployment/deployment.properties
Deployment.properties contains:
deployment.user.cachedir=C\:\\Program Files\\HCN
deployment.user.cachedir.locked
deployment.system.cachedir=C\:\\Program Files\\HCN
deployment.javaws.shortcut="NEVER"
deployment.javaws.autodownload="NEVER"
Not sure what's missing here especially since it worked fine the other day.
Both of these servers are virtual, VMware ESX 3.5 and were created from the same template. Only real difference is the production system will be a XenApp application server so it has XenApp installed.
Error I'm getting is that in Javaws it reports that the system cache is not configured and every time I launch my application it has to download from the source because we are deleting the local profiles when the user logs out.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance,
Linn

> I just wanted to know whether there will be any sort of communication or support issues between PROD and DEVE systems with such diverse configurations.
No.
You could even use HP-UX on the DEV system - as long as you're able to share a common directory to ensure transporting it's not a problem. Transports are OS and DB independent.
However, memory management and security in Windows 2008 changed significantly, you may have to use different configurations for W2K8 vs. W2K3.
Markus

How can I delete the update installation files? Or which files are useless and safe to delete?

ThinkVantage System Update application will find the appropriate updates, download them and install them. This is convenient. But when it finishes the updates, it will not clean the installation files it has downloaded, which I think are not useful any more since the update installation is completed, right?
I think the update appliction stores the downloaded files in the folder: C:\Program Files\Lenovo\System Update\ , this folder of mine is over 1.32GB big now. But I just don't know which files and subfolders in it are safe to delete.
Or rather, the preload system occupies a large space on the disk. Which files are no longer used and safe to delete?
Would any experts help with this? Thank you very much!
Norm

I've been experimenting. Now I figure it out. Automatic System Update downloads and stores files in C:\Program Files\Lenovo\System Update\ Sessions\, and in Sessions' subfolders, all files are not used once update is completed except those ending with .xml. Thus those unnacessary files are safe to delete.
This is what I find out so far.
Continuing to experiment.
Message Edited by normyy on 05-31-2009 11:12 PM

I have to keep deleting the cache. Facebook and hotmail issues

Ok, i guess 2 months ago, nobody answered my question. I get very frustrated.
Here we go again........I have to keep deleting my cache in order to use facebook and I noticed with hotmail as well. so please don't tell me to clear my cache, I already did that. I use igoogle for my start page. I noticed everything on google doesn't load. So I clear my cache. The it happens again, it happens several times during the day. I also uninstalled and reinstalled.....nothing is working. Next step is to reformat my computer. So does anyone know what the issue is?

If you need to delete the cache that often then it appears that you have either an extension or external (cleanup) software causing problems with the cache. If shouldn't be necessary to clear the cache under normal conditions.
Start Firefox in [[Safe Mode]] to check if one of your add-ons is causing your problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Themes).
* Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
See [[Troubleshooting extensions and themes]] and [[Troubleshooting plugins]]

Concern Regarding a System Cache

I have a lot of large files on my machine (Virtual Machine Disk Images, Videos, etc.) and use an application called iDefrag to occasionally reduce the amount of fragmentation in those larger files (I am aware of the OS' active defrag, but am also aware it only works for small files).
On several occasions the following file caught my attention, as it seemed to be increasing in size each time:
/System/Library/Caches/com.apple.coresymbolicationd/data
which iDefrag is reporting as currently being 1.6 GB (it was 1.3GB about a month ago). I went into the System Cache folder to investigate, and found the container folder for the file was access locked.
What is the purpose of this cache?
Is it normal for it to expand in size?
What size should it be?
Will it eventually stop expanding?

Symbolication means replacing memory addresses with symbols (like functions or variables) or for example adding function names and line number information. It is used for debugging and analyzing crash reports.
You can safely delete files in cache folders and /System/Library/Caches/ is even excluded from Time Machine backups.

ESSO delete local cache in Citrix Server

Hi all,
I would to know when configuring the ESSO in the Citrix server, why do I need to enable the "Delete local cache"? Any problem if I disallow to delete local cache in the Citrix server?
Thanks

it has to do with the citrix server being a shared system. You should also be enabling an option to store local cache in memory only as well. I'm not sure as to the exact reason, but I do know it doesn't seem to function properly when those settings are not set as recommended.

888k Error in ULS Logs for File System Cache

Hello,
We have a SharePoint 2010 farm in a three-tier architecture with multiple WFEs and APP servers.
Roughly once a week we will have a number of WFEs seize up and jump to 100% CPU usage. Usually they come in pairs; two servers will jump to 100% at the same time while all the other servers are fine in the 20% - 50% range.
Corresponding to the 100% CPU spike, the following appear in the ULS logs:
"File system cache monitor encoutered error, flushing in memory cache: System.IO.InternalBufferOverflowException: Too many changes at once in directory:C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\SharePoint\Config\<GUID>\."
When these appear, the ULS logs will show hundreds back-to-back flooding the logs.
I have yet to figure out how to stop these and bring the CPU usage down while the incident is happening, and how to prevent them in the future.
While the incident is happening, I have tried clearing the configuration cache, shutting the timer jobs down on each server, deleting all the files but config.ini in the folder listed above, changing config.ini to 1, and restarting the timer. The CPU will
drop momentarily during this process, but as soon as all the timer jobs are restarted the CPUs jump back to 100% on the same servers.
This week as part of my weekly maintenance I thought I'd be proactive and clear the cache even though the behavior wasn't happening, and all CPUs were normal. As soon as I finished, the CPU on two servers that were previously fine jumped to 100% and wouldn't
come down. Needless to say, users complain of latency when servers are at 100% CPU.
So I am frustrated. The only thing I have found that works when the CPUs jump to 100% with these errors are a reboot. Nothing else, including IISReset and stopping/starting the admin and timer job services work. Being Production systems, reboots during the
middle of the day are bad.
Any ideas? I have scoured the Internet resources on this error and have come up relatively empty-handed. All the articles reference clearing the configuration cache, which, in my instance, does not get rid of these issues, and can even trigger them.
Thanks,
Joseph Irvine

Take a look at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/952167 for the list of recommended exclusions per Microsoft.
Trevor Seward
Follow or contact me at...
&nbsp&nbsp
This post is my own opinion and does not necessarily reflect the opinion or view of Microsoft, its employees, or other MVPs.

Is it safe to delete com.apple.systemdfine2.plist ?

I scanned for corrupted preference files using Cocktail 4.6.2 -- com.apple.systemdfine2.plist was the only system plist file identified (several user-level plist files were also identified; these have been deleted).
According to Cocktail:
XML parser error:
Unexpected character " at line 1
Old-style plist parser error:
Unexpected ';' or '=' after key at line 2
If it helps any, the first two lines of com.apple.systemdfine2.plist are:
"BW:zZ
1-?[F_0TC}o:zb6\mRm}0[} -j/vk#518uwTYCMhLIhfg=YRZW#Pnf?_C=t#[]SqJ>)}(i~R]>8v~J$`0@X" '[&ZqQ J`(c3D[\'o- 'NTsq,v(Sc-3R/WGF3t-J
About a month ago this iMac started acting up and eventually crashed hard, requiring several erase / system reinstalls to get it functioning again. But it's not 100% back. For example, Time Machine has been iffy and interferes with some third-party software (e.g., in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, right-clicking on an image brings up a contextual menu that allows opening the image in Photoshop; however, if the Time Macine HDD is connected to this iMac, Photoshop opens but the image does not). I keep trying to repair things as they come up, which is why I went searching for corrupted preference files.
Thanks in advance for your information and suggestions.
John

I don't know what that file is and don't have it on my 10.6. The only .plist files safe to delete are preference files. If it belongs to the System (/System/Library) it's not a preference file, it's meant to store code for running a process. I don't understand why Cocktail identified it.

Is it safe to delete Old QRFc logs ?

Hi team ,
In SMQ 1 of ECC system we are able to see more entries for few Data sources like
0BP_STATUS_ATTR
0BP_TAXNUMB_ATTR
0FI_AP_3
0BP_ROLES_ATTR
For these data source the Entries are more( around 10000) and they not loaded to BW end and these entries are very long during 2012 and For these DS the message is like , Update terminated, NOSEND in ECC SMQ 1.
As all these Datasoucres are running as Delta laods in BW system and they are very old periods like 2012 data and when we verify during that old periods the loads are completed in BW end , but SMQ1 entries are there. Please suggest can we delete these entries in ECC system end.

hi Sarthak,
qRFCs are nothing but an enhancement to tRFC, although it also uses the same mechanism as tRFC - with the advantage that it transfers data in the same sequence in inbound and outbound.
It should be safe to delete those if it dates back to so long.
Please check the below link, it might help : qRFC Administration - Connectivity - SAP Library
Hope this helps!
-Sheen

Delete System/Library/Speech

I'm trying to free disk space on my iBook HD (so I can store photos during a trip). I've never used the speech synthesis or recognition software. The voices take up over 700MB. Is it safe to delete the Speech folder from the system library?
I'm sorry if this has been asked before. I searched and couldn't find anything.
David

Never, ever delete, move, or rename any files installed by OS X. Doing so could render your operating system non-funtional. If you need more disk space then either buy an external drive and move your personal data files to it, delete unneeded personal files, or replace the internal drive with a larger drive.

Is it safe to delete system caches?

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